ProStart is the two-year career-building program for high school students.  Whether students are looking to enter the job market directly after graduation or if they plan to attend college, a ProStart graduate makes a solid candidate for success. 

Students learn fundamental culinary and management skills in the classroom.  Classroom experience provides students with the important skills they will need for success in the industry.  Many university hospitality programs accept ProStart courses for college credit.

ProStart students put their learning to work on the job in qualified foodservice operations with industry professionals.  During their work experience, students receive mentor support, character development and real-world skills that give them a head start toward a career in the industry.

ProStart National Certificate of Achievement

ProStart students are eligible to earn the National ProStart Certificate of Achievement. The Certificate gives students access to national and statewide articulation agreements and scholarship opportunities. In order to receive the Certificate, the following must be done:

• Student takes and passes the Year One and Year Two ProStart Exams (contact us to receive exam masters)
• Student works at least 400 hours in the foodservice industry.  This school year only (2009-2010)--200 of the hours may be signed off by the instructor, unpaid.  The remaining 200 hours have to be in a foodservice position--this can be paid or unpaid
• Student provides proof of work hours to instructor (this can be a check stub or a letter from the employer)
• Employer completes the Student Work Experience Checklist
• Teacher completes the Student Work Validation Form and faxes to FRLAEF
along with proof of work hours
• FRLAEF signs off on Student Work Validation Form and forwards it to NRAEF
• NRAEF issues certificate

The exam results are available online at the NRAEF ProStart website.  In order to access the ProStart exams and forms, you must have a login ID and password. To gain access to the Educator Services section click here and then:
Click on “gain initial access rights” and follow the instructions

If you need copies of the exams and do not have time to set up a login ID and password, please let us know and we can email you the exams and answer keys.

Mail or fax Work Validations and proof of work hours to:

Amy Parker

FRLAEF

230 S Adams Street

Tallahassee, FL  32301

850-224-2871  (FAX)